The best of the custom and racing worlds.

How a Double R custom build by PRAËM is shaking up the customising world.

Who ever imagined that perfection could be perfected? With their 70s-retro Double RR custom build, the PRAËM customising team have combined performance and style in a bike that's also fit for the race track.

People have been customising motorcycles ever since they were invented. Talented customisers have tailored bikes to their taste in almost every style imaginable. But the PRAËM S 1000 RR would probably make the top-ten list of the most sought-after custom builds of all time. Despite all the modifications that make it a top-notch old-school superbike, the Double R by PRAËM does not compromise performance and is still an excellent choice for the race track.

Crafted by the Berneron brothers.

Crafted by the Berneron brothers.

Two French brothers, Sylvain and Florent Berneron, are the men behind the custom bike that is shaking up the customising world. Sylvain, who's 27 years old, has already been a member of in Design Team BMW Motorrad for five years. Sylvain's younger brother Florent, 25, is also a passionate biker. As a former army helicopter technician, Florent brings the necessary engineering skills to the table. Together, the brothers are the ideal team for building exclusive two-wheelers.

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The best of both worlds.

The best of both worlds.

Sylvain and Florent Berneron devoted countless hours of work to the PRAËM S 1000 RR. "We wanted to bring together the best of the racing and custom worlds", says Sylvain. "Creating a racing bike is also a form of customising. It was actually very popular in the old days. Many racing motorcycles were prototypes based on a road bike. It's the same with customising: You have a vision and you make it happen. And then you see how it works.

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20 kilos lighter than the stock model

Anyone who builds sports motorcycles knows that it involves a huge amount of technical work and, most importantly, precision. Despite this challenge, the Berneron brothers made more modifications to the Double R than are apparent at first glance. The fuel tank is 50 mm longer than standard, 70% of it is reconstructed of aluminium and it is designed to fit a Stäubli endurance-style quick-fill fuel cap system. The front fairing is based on a Suzuka 8-hour endurance bike and has one light on the right side. The seat is completely hand-made. The carbon wheels are approximately 5 kg lighter than the lightweight wheels on the S 1000 RR.

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"We used Sicom carbon ceramic brakes", says Sylvain. "But the front and rear suspension is stock because we wanted to keep the electronic settings. The front air inlet system is redesigned to fit the fairing and the intake silencer is made of aluminium. The stock engine is powerful enough. However, we used a titanium 4-in-1 exhaust system by Akrapovič. The radiator is designed for endurance, so we don't need. Brakes and coolant hoses all feature Stäubli quick release connectors. The subframe and battery carrier are made by us.”

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‘

You have a vision and you make it happen. And then you see how it works.

’

Sylvain Berneron

Designed to go the distance

If the engineering work that went into the PRAËM S 1000 RR isn’t enough to win you over, take a closer look at the paintwork. The strategic choice of colours is an important element of custom builds and this bike is no exception. Its eye-catching design was inspired by the 1975 BMW Art Car by Alexander Calder. And while this PRAËM S 1000 RR is definitely a masterpiece on wheels, it is also a racing bike that is ready for the race track.

But what motivated two young men to build a custom bike that is so clearly inspired by the racers of the 70s and 80s? "We get asked that all the time", says Sylvain with a laugh. "There are two answers. First, we grew up in a racing family. Second, racing bikes were just as inspiring back then as they are now".

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The glory days

The racing machines of the 80s were truly magnificent and memorable. So it was all the more important for the Berneron brothers to pay homage to the key elements of those bikes. The fairing and the tail section hark back to iconic bikes like the Suzuki XR69. The wheels are also reminiscent of Dymag alloy wheels from that period. The engine covers are fabricated by PRAËM to replicate a 70s look. In keeping with this style, there is also only one headlight.

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"Our goal was to build a bike that reflects the freedoms of personal interpretation whilst letting the basics of the original bike shine through. We wanted to build a motorcycle that combines performance and style rather than one that merely looks stylish", says Sylvain. To judge whether they succeeded, you can see the bike in person at many different events. The PRAËM S 1000 RR will be showcased as an official BMW Motorrad custom project at MotoGP in France, the Wheels and Waves Festival in Biarritz, BMW Motorrad Days and other events.